Firing mechanism



J. M. KING FIRIHG MECHANISM Filed sept. so, 1935 April 6, 1937.

Inventur Jahn M Kn Atlnrnev Patented pr. 6, 1937 John M. King, Dover, N.J.

Application September 30,' 1935, Serial No. 42,865

y(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30,

The` purpose of the invention is to provide a firing mechanism in whichthe primer is protected against accidental ring during storage andtransportation. This is accomplished by interposing a sear between theprimer and hammer and arranging it` to cock and then release the hammerat the time of firing.

To these and other ends, the invention .con-

sists in the construction, arrangement and com- ,bination of elementsdescribed hereinafter and pointed out in the claim forming a part ofthis specication.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of aparachute are provided withthe improved iiring mechanism and showing the4 parts `in the safeposition.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in firing position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is alongitudinal sectional view showing the invention applied to a bomb.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 there is shown a are including a case 5 foran illuminant 6 and a case 1 which is attached to the case 5 by screws 8and houses a parachute 9. The parachute is adapted to be withdrawn fromits case in a well known manner when the ilare is launched lfrom anaircraft.

A disc I0 fitted in the case 5 and spaced from the upper end thereofcarries a primer Il which is in line with a relay charge I2 in a centraltube I3 that passes through the illuminant.

A container I4 is inserted in the case 5 andis secured in place by thescrews 8. The iioor vof the container is formed with punched-out `feetl5 engaging the disc I0 and has a central opening I6 to expose theprimer. A pair of upstanding spaced ears Il--ii are also punched out ofthe floor and carry a pin I3 on which a hammer i9 is pivotally mounted.The under side of the hammer is provided with a rlng pin 20 which isadapted to strike the primer. A' torsion spring 2l mounted on the pin I8and bearing on the oor of the container and on the hammer is arranged sothat it is not fully compressed until the hammer is moved to cockedposition as shown in Fig. 2. n

A sear 22 is pivotally mounted on the wall of the container and isarranged to cover the primer when resting on the iioorof the containeras shown in Fig. 1. A cord or wire 23 connects the sear with one of thesuspension 'cords 24 of the parachute. The cords 24 are fastened to thetop of the container i4 and serve to support the iiare when theparachute has' been withdrawn and becomes distended.

The sear and hammer are in normal safe position when-as shown'j'inFigs-1 the'sear is interposed between the hammer and the primer. Thedistension of the parachute causes the cord 24 to be drawn taut and thecords act through the Wire 23 to rotate the sear as shown in Fig. 2. Thesear on being raised moves the hammer to cocked position, and therebycompresses the torsion spring. As soon as the sear becomes disengagedfrom the hammer, the latter is actuated by the spring to re the primer.

In the modication shown in Fig. 4 the firing mechanism is applied to abomb 25. An adapter 26 threaded to the interior of the bomb carriesA theprimer 21 and a frame 28 resting on the adapter and retained by a tube29 threaded to the exterior of the bomb, carries the hammer 30 and sear3|. A wire 32 connects the sear and a cover 33 and has its upper endterminating in a loop 34 for attachment of the suspension cord 35 of theparachute (not shown). When the parachute opens, the cover is removedand the sear actuated in the manner previously described.

I claim:

In a projectile, a case, a disc in the case and spaced from the upperend thereof, a primer carried by the disc, a container secured in theupper end of the case above the d isc and having an opening in its doorto expose the primer, a pivotally mounted hammer within the containerand arranged to strike the primer, a spring for actuating the hammer, apivotally mounted Sear within the container and normally resting on theioor of the container between the primer and hammer and covering theprimer, and means for rotating the sear to cock and then release thehammer.

JOHN M. KING.

